I'll drown eventually so don't save me
It was a lot to ask for, wasn't it. After fucking up, and then taking her rage and confusion out on him, only to land herself in trouble she should have seen coming, and still dare to demand things like holding back and giving her the kill. No matter that they hadn't come to an agreement around wars and duty and responsibility, Maea could at least recognize how willful she was being. According to Charlie, that was perfectly alright - but she still thought it would be best to try and make it up to this man anyway. Apparently she'd made a declaration of friendship with him. And apparently he was honoring it even when she acted like a lunatic.
There was not enough room to slice cleanly at the snake's throat. So instead Maea pressed the burning weapon against the scaly hide and pushed. She could feel every inch of muscled body tense and struggle around her as the pain ate into the snake, but while she felt awful to extend its suffering like this, she didn't let go. Even when her breath was squeezed out of her, even when the armor couldn't absorb all the damage and her ribs began to creak and groan and splinter - with red blood bubbling and dying her lips she kept going until her own hand was soaked in crimson to the elbow from the hot, precious lifeblood the serpent shed.
Then the blade hit an artery. And in a torrent of blood that likely splattered them both, the rock-slider shuddered and grew limp in Astaroth's grip. Maea inhaled a hoarse, painful breath when the death grip around her body eased up, and a final slash ended the battle.
And for a moment all was utterly still, and silent.
There was not enough room to slice cleanly at the snake's throat. So instead Maea pressed the burning weapon against the scaly hide and pushed. She could feel every inch of muscled body tense and struggle around her as the pain ate into the snake, but while she felt awful to extend its suffering like this, she didn't let go. Even when her breath was squeezed out of her, even when the armor couldn't absorb all the damage and her ribs began to creak and groan and splinter - with red blood bubbling and dying her lips she kept going until her own hand was soaked in crimson to the elbow from the hot, precious lifeblood the serpent shed.
Then the blade hit an artery. And in a torrent of blood that likely splattered them both, the rock-slider shuddered and grew limp in Astaroth's grip. Maea inhaled a hoarse, painful breath when the death grip around her body eased up, and a final slash ended the battle.
And for a moment all was utterly still, and silent.
Maea
